Pedal for pianos.



No. 690,362. Patented Dec. 3:, 190:. J. B. DAYFOUT & H. a. STEDMAN.

PEDAL FUR PIANOS.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1901.

2 SheetsSheet I.

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- Patented Dec. 3|, i901.

J. B. DAYFOOT & H. G. STEDMAN. PEDAL FOR PIANOS.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2."

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UNITED STATES PATENT mus.

JOHN B. DAYFOOT AND HARRY e; S'IEDMAN, or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORS' TO IVERS & POND PIANO coMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

PEDALPFJOR Pi Nos'.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of'Letters 'IPate nt No. 690,362, dated DecemberBI, 1901'. Application filed April 15', 1901. Serial No. 55.801. o'a'moa w.

To LLZZ whom, it may concern. Beit known that we, JOHNB. DAYFQoTand HARRY G. STEDMAN,citizens of the United States, residing at Cambridge, inthe county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have" invented a certain net and'useful Improvefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

pedals ofa piano and the mounting therefor \vith the'cap-block removed and representsone embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a View in section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 with the I 5 cap-block in place. Fig. 3 is a plan view of certain details, as hereinafter described. Fig.

4 is' a view in section on line 4 4 of Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 5,6, and 7 illustrate modifications.

The invention has relation more especially :0 to the means of mounting pedals in pianos and other musical instruments. It has for its main object to produce an improved construction which shall enable the pedals ofa piano or other instrument to be applied and prop- 2 5 erly secured in operative position and to be removed when necessary with greater convenience and rapidity than in the case of the constructions heretofore in general use.

Having reference to the drawings, portion 0 of the front casing 1 of a piano is indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and portion of the bottom thereof is shown at 2, Figs. 2

and 4. The block or pedestal with which the inner portions of the pedals are connected is shown at 3. It is formed with notches or recesses 31 31 in its upper part for the reception of the said portionsof the pedals, these last being entered between the upwardly projecting portions 4 4 at the opposite sides 0 of the said notches or recesses. Upon the block or pedestal 3 is placed a cap-block. 8,

which is notched or recessed in its underside to correspond with the block or pedestal 3,

as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 4. The said portions 4 4 are grooved in their upper surfaces to receive the pivotal pin or pins of the pedals. ,In the preferred embodiment of the invention a separate pivotal pin 7 is provided for each pedal, it extending trans- In the drawings, Figure 1 shows inplan'the versely across the 'notch or recess for such pedal in the block or pedestal 3, and having its end portions locatedin the grooves at opposite'sides ofthe said notch or recess. Thesaid grooves constitutebearings for the said separate pivotal pins, the said end portions conment in Pedals for Pianos, &c., of which the stituting journals and being surrounded by suitable feltor equivalent bushings 15 15, as

shown best in Fig. 1. p

. Heretotoreit has been the practice to' mount the series of pedals in a piano or-the like upon a single rod or long pin carried by a suitable'support. This has the disadvantage that the movement of the respective pedals around the said rod or pin is productive of squeaking and noise. It has the further disadvantage that if for any reason the bearings of the respective pedals upon the said rod or pin should be too tight andbind the movement of one pedal will either twist the pin or rod or cause one or all the others to be moved.

By the use of a separate'pivotal pin for each pedal the pedals are rendered entirely independent of one another. in their movements, and by furnishing the journals of the said separate pins within the bearings therefor with bushings, as just noted, and clamping the respective pins to the corresponding pedals, as noted hereinafter, all disagreeable noise and the like are obviated.

In the present instance the cap-block and pedestal are fixed together and to the bottom 2 ofthe casing by means of Wood-screws 9 9. (Shown best in Figs. 2 and 4.)

5 55 are the pedals, and 19 19 19 are the connections extending upwardly therefrom. Each pedal is provided with a seat to receive and fit the pivotal pin and with a movable cap to lock the pivotal pin and seat together. The form, arrangement, and construction of the seat and cap may be varied within certain limits without in volving a departure from the invention. Preferably the seatis located at the top of the pedal, and more particularly when a separate pivotal pin is employed for each pedal is constructed with an angular notch adapted to receive the body of the piv--v otal pin. The movable cap usually is formed as a plate applied to the pedal and arranged to 7 than a single screw 12 in connection with the receive the pivotal pin between the same and the seat. The seat and cap press firmly against opposite surfaces of the pivotal pin, so that there is no looseness or vibration. In Fig. 2 the seat is constituted by the angular notch 10 in the top of the rear extremity of the pedal, and the cap-plate 11 is acted upon by an adjusting-screw 12, by means of which the said cap-plate and pedal are drawn togetherupon the pivotal pin. By compressing the said parts tightly upon the pivotal pin the latter may be locked with the pedal, so as to move in unison with the pedal, and its end portions or journals will turn in the bearings which are formed in the portions-4 4 of the block or pedestal 3. When it is desired to insure against relative movement of the pedal and pin,-which is preferred in practice, the best results are attained by forming one of the shoulders of the notch with an acute or right angle in order that the sharper angle may take a better grip of the pivotal pin.

This is illustrated by Fig. 2, in which one ofthesaid shoulders is formed with an acute.

angle. However, in the case of a notch having both of its shoulders formed with obtuse angles, as in Fig. 7, if the notch is bushed, as v at 10, as well as the bearings for the ends of the pivotal pin 7, it will not be objectionable if the said pin is capable of turning in both the notch or seat and the bearings. In some i the notch may embodiments of the invention be rectangular, as at 16 in Fig. 5.

To hold the cap-plate ll from turning, the

front end thereof is arranged to take against a shoulder 14 on the top part of the pedal.

(See Figs. 2 and 5.) By providing this shoul der it is rendered unnecessary to employ more cap-plate 11. The best results are attained in practice by making the shoulder l t undercut, as in Fig. 2, and beveling the end of the cap-plate 11 to enter the angle formed between the said shoulder and the adjacent portion of the top of the pedal at the rear of the shoulder. The undercutshoulder of the pedal holds the adjacent end of the cap-plate down i in place, keeping such end from rising above the shoulder, and prevents the cap-plate from becoming displaced laterally relative to the pedal after screw 12 has been loosened somewhat. It prevents the said as the screw 12 is tightened and causes the cap-plate to move upon such end under the shoulder as upon a fulcrum, enabling thereby the cap-plate to be tightened upon the pivot-pin to greater advantage.

The rear end of the cap-plate 11 is arranged to project at all times from the adjacent portion of the pedal 5 in such a manner as to facilitate the entrance of the pivotal pin between the cap-plate and the pedal. In Figs. 2 and 5 the said end of the cap-plate projects beyond or overhangs the extreme rear end of the pedal, so that in performing the operation of placing the pedal in position the rear portion of the pedal may be pushed through end from rising plying the pedal properly to its pivotal front of the cap-block S is notched or cut away above the same, as at 13, (see more particularly Fig. 3,) to admit the necessary tool.

In cases where the pedal is formed with a portion thereof projecting to the rear of the seat 10, as in Fig. 6, in which latter the connection 19 is united with the pedal at the rear of the pivotal pin 7, the top surface ofthe pedal 5 will be shaped to cause the rear end of the cap-plate 11 to project or stand normally a sufficient distance from the proximate surface of the pedal to facilitate the passage of the pivotal pin 7 beneath the said rear end of the cap-plate 11. In this case in the operation of introducing the pedal into place the upper surface thereof at the rear of the seat 10 will be caused to press-against the under surface of the pivotal pin 7, and then on pushing the pedal farther to the rear the rear end of the cap-plate 11 will pass above the pivotal pin, thelatter finding its way readily into the notch 10.

WVhen it is desired to remove the pedal from its pivotal support, this may readily and quickly be effected simply by loosening the screw 12 sufficiently to enable the cap-plate 11 to move far enough away from the top of the rear portion of the pedal to permit the pivotal pin to pass out between the cap-plate and the pedal. The operation of replacing the pedal may be as conveniently and quickly performed in the manner already set forth above.

If the rear end of the cap-plate 11 were flush with the pedal, it would be necessary to use some tool to lift up said end in order to facilitate the passage of the pivotal pin between the said cap-plate and thepedal. By I causing the rear end of the cap-plate to project normally a sufficient distance from the pedal to enable said end to seat itself upon the upper side of the pivotal pin when the pedal is pushed rearwardly into place the use of the tool for the purpose noted is rendered unnecessary, since the operation of apsup. port is facilitated by feeling with the projecting cap-plate for the pivotal pin.

Should for any reason it be desired to effect adjustment or shift of the pedal transversely within its recess or notch in the block or pedestal 3, this may be provided for conveniently at the time of assembling the said block or pedestal, the pivotal pin 7, and the cap-block b by placing on the said pin three, four, or

more washers 71 71, the said washers being such as usually'are employed for sou nd-dead- If. at anytime the be found necessary, it may be eifected simply by loosening the screw 12 sufficiently to permit withdrawal of the pedal from its pivotal pin, then locating or setting the washers on the pin, so as toplace equal or unequal num-' bers of Washers at the opposite sides of the recess, according to the position which it is desired to give to the pedal, then replacing the pedal in the manner already explained, and .then tightening up the screw or other adjusting device which is employed in connection with the cap-plate 11. It will be obvious that in practice other convenient and known adjusting devices for the cap-plate 11 may be employed in lieu of the'screw 12.

What we claim is-- 1. In combination, a support containing bearings, a pivotal pin carried by said support and turning in the bearings thereof, a pedal having a seat which detachably fits the said pivotal pin, the. movable cap-plate on said pedal, and means to compress saidcapplate against said pivotal pin to clamp the pedal to the said pin and compel them both to turn in unison.

2. In combination, a support containing bearings, a pivotal pin carried by said support and turning in the bearings thereof, a pedal having a seat which detachably fits the said pivotal pin, the movable cap-plate on said pedal, and the clamping-screw accessible from above and acting upon said cap-plate to clamp the pedal to the pin and compel them both to turn in unison. v

3. In combination, the pivotal pin, the support therefor, the pedal having the seat which receives the said pivotal pin, and the movable cap-plate having the end thereof projecting at all times clear of the pedal to guide the pin into the seat in assembling the parts, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the pivotal pin, the support therefor, the pedal having theseat which receives the said pivotal pin, the movable capplate having the end thereof projecting normally clear of the pedal to enable said end to seat itself upon the upper side of the pivotal pin when the pedal is pushed rearwardly into place, whereby to guide the pin beneath the same in assembling the parts, and the adj usting device accessible from above, substantially as described.

5. In combination, the support, the pivotal pin carried thereby, the pedal having the seat which receives the said pivotal pin and adjacent the same the undercut shoulder, the capplate having one end thereof seated under the said shoulder, and means to clamp the said cap-plate upon the pivotal pin.

6. In combination, the support provided with beari n gs for a series of pivotal pins, a plurality of pivotal pins applied to the said support and having the journals thereof bushed as described, and the plurality of pedals each having a seat which receives the corresponding pivotal pin, a cap-plate, and means to compress the said cap-plate against the pedal to clamp the pedal and pivotal pin together.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. DAYFOOT. HARRY Gr. STEDMAN. 

